BENNETT. Print: Trykkpartner Lade Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella Wilderness from valleys to peaks Norway s national parks nature as it was meant to be Norway s national parks are regulated by the laws of nature. Nature decides both how and when to do things. National parks are established in order to protect large natural areas from the coast to the mountains. This is done for the benefit of nature itself, for our sake and for generations to come. The national parks offer a wide range of opportunities and experiences. The natural surroundings are beautiful and varied. There is hunting, fishing, plants, birds, animals and cultural monuments. Accept our invitation become acquainted with nature and our national parks. www.dirnat.no TE1185 Photo: Arild Juul, Torbjørn Moen/Norsk Bildebyrå, Tore Solstad, Bernt Hågensen, Kjartan Knutsen, Dag Røttereng/Samfoto, Tom Schandy/Samfoto and Steinar Johansen. Front page: Near Tverrbekken in Lurudal.
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 3 o Welcome to one of the largest continuous areas of wilderness in southern Norway The Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park is one of the largest national parks in Norway. The landscape varies from magnificent wooded valleys with remnants of virgin forest to high mountains. You can see many endangered species of plants and animals in distinctive, varied scenery. Lurusneisa
4 o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 5 o Blåfjella from the north EXPERIENCE nature A family walk or hiking in the mountains? The Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park has many paths; some are marked with cairns or the like, but there are no marked or prepared ski tracks in winter. Skjækerdalshytta and the former Holden Farm are self-service huts managed by the Norwegian Hiking Association, and you can rent other accommodation in the park. Hunting and fishing There are plenty of opportunities for hunting and fishing in the national park. You can catch plenty of goodquality brown trout and char in lakes on the higher ground. The area is well known for its grouse. Most biggame hunting concerns elk, but is not permitted within the confines of the former Gressåmoen National Park. Brown trout Blåfjellet
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 6 o THE LANDSCAPE From lush valleys to high mountains The national park mostly consists of fairly gently undulating upland, but some mountains reach above 1000 m; Midtiklumpen (1333 m a.s.l.) in the Blåfjell massif is the highest. The landscape is varied and includes coniferous forest, birch woodland, mires, valleys and mountains. You can see landforms from the last Ice Age, including kame terraces, eskers (ridges of sand and gravel deposited by rivers beneath the glacier) and drumlins (long, oval ridges of ground moraine formed beneath the glacier). A number of nutrient-rich types of bedrock, such as mica schist, occur from the south as far north as Holderen, and these support lush vegetation. Gneissic rocks that are poor in nutrients take over further north, and the poor vegetation cover there reflects this change. The great variation in types of ecosystem and the extensive areas with a wilderness character offer habitats for birds of prey, large predators and other wildlife. Skjeldbreien View towards Midtiklumpen
Design and digital cartography: Gåsvatn-kartjenester, www.kart-tjenester.no Digital map data: Norwegian Mapping Authority N250. Licence no. MAD12002-R125240 TO SYMBOLS KEY TOKEY SYMBOLS County border County border National Park National Park Protected landscape Protected landscape Nature reserve Nature reserve Accommodation Accommodation Restaurant/cafeteria Restaurant/cafeteria National Park National Park Center InformationInformation Center Camping Camping Staffed tourist cabin Staffed tourist cabin Self-service tourist cabin Self-service tourist cabin How to get to Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park: From the south: From Stiklestad along Route 757 to Vera. Paths lead towards the park from Skjækerfossen, Storlunet and Vera. From the west: From Steinkjer along Route 762, via Gaulstad to Lustadvatnet. A path takes you from that lake to Skjækervatnet. From Route 763 near Breide in Snåsa to Grønningen and then eastwards along marked paths. From Route 763 in the centre of Snåsa to Agle, and then via Skromo to a car park at Storåskammen, or the Lurudal road to Gressåmoen Farm. From the north: Along Route 74 from Formofoss towards Nordli, and branch off at Trongen or park at Gosen on Lifjellet. From the east: Follow Route 765 through Sørli. You can park at several places, such as Jule, Bruvoll and Eide. From Sweden: Take Route 72/336 between Järpen in Sweden and Verdal, 55 km from Kallsedet to Björkede, via Övereng where you can arrange to be taken over the lake by boat. Maps: Several maps in the Norway 1:50 000 series.
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 11 o PLANT LIFE Special botanical treats Both coastal plants and plants requiring an inland climate occur in the national park, and several parts of the park, such as Skjækerfjella and the area around Raudfjellet in Snåsa, are rich and outstanding plant localities. Many of the species you can find in the park figure on the Norwegian Red List of vulnerable and endangered species. The national park is situated where Norway spruce first immigrated to Norway. Valleys and hillsides have extensive areas of upland woodland with spruce, Scots pine and birch that have been comparatively little affected by people in modern times. Bear tracks Ghost orchid ANIMAL LIFE Many kinds of animals and birds The national park has unusually large numbers of mammals, as many as 28 species, and numerous species of birds. The Arctic fox breeds here and is one of the rarest of the species. Many elk, red deer and roe deer roam the valleys and hillsides. Wolverines, lynx and brown bears are regularly seen. The wolverines belong to the southern part of a continuous population inhabiting northern Scandinavia. Wolves occasionally roam into the national park. The area is important for wetland birds, birds of prey and owls. Several species are on the Norwegian Red List of vulnerable and endangered species. Globeflower
12 o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park HISTORY Central Sámi district The southern Sámi have herded their reindeer here for more than 500 years and have used the area for many more centuries. There are many cultural heritage relics from the southern Sámi, such as settlement sites, corrals, burial sites and sacred places. Activities like hunting, fishing and collecting berries and plants can be traced right back to the Early Stone Age, 7000 BC. Animal fodder has been scythed and gathered in from hillsides and fens in parts of the national park, particularly near Verdal and Snåsa. Transhumance summer dairy farming and haymaking on marginal land gradually died out between the end of the 19th century and the Second World War, but remains of this old cultural landscape, including farm buildings and grazing land, can still be seen in several places. The former Holden Farm offers overnight accommodation. It is surrounded by a valuable cultural landscape. There are several paths and ancient tracks in the area. Some are referred to as priest tracks because vicars used them when journeying between scattered settlements to hold services. Windfall in Lurudalen
14 o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 15 o You are a guest of nature in a national park You may go wherever you like, on foot or ski, but the basic rule is that anything with an engine is prohibited. You can stop wherever you like and pitch a tent. Always tidy up after yourself and don t leave litter. You can light a fire, but remember the general ban on lighting fires in forests from 15 April to 15 September. Be considerate when collecting firewood. You can pick berries, mushrooms and common plants for your own use. Be considerate of cultural relics, vegetation and fauna. Be extra careful during the breeding and nesting season. Make use of the hunting and fishing opportunities. Remember a hunting/fishing licence. Never use live fish as bait, or transfer live fish from one watercourse to another. You can take your dog with you, but remember to keep it on a lead from 1 April to 20 August. View of Blåfjella Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/ Låarte-Skæhkere National Park in brief Where: Grong, Lierne, Snåsa, Steinkjer and Verdal municipalities, Nord-Trøndelag county. Foremost characteristics: Large tract of open country ranging from lowland slopes and valleys with remnants of virgin forest to high mountains. Rich vegetation and wildlife, home to many endangered species. Outdoor recreation: The national park offers good opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation. The terrain is suitable for shooting ptarmigan and other small game, and there are a number of fine lakes where you can fish brown trout and char. There are many paths, some of which are marked. No winter tracks are marked. Overnight accommodation is available, and huts may be rented. Information on overnight accommodation and other services: Friendly Trøndelag, www.trondelag.com Indre Namdal, www.indre-namdal.no Tips: Several parts of the area lack mobile phone coverage. Remember to have waterproof footwear, a mosquito net and mosquito oil in summer. Designated: 2004 Size: 1924 km 2 Adjacent protected areas: Arvasslia Nature Reserve Berglimyra and Klumplifjellet Nature Reserve Gaundalsmyra Nature Reserve Storfloa Nature Reserve Skjækra Protected Landscape National Park Information Center: Lierne Nasjonalparksenter, Tel. +47 74 34 34 85 www.naturporten.no More information: County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag, www.fylkesmannen.no/nt, Tel. +47 74 16 80 00 Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, Steinkjer, Tel. +47 74 14 02 10 Snåsa Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/snaasa, Tel. +47 74 12 74 48 Sørli Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/lierne, Tel. +47 74 33 85 99 Nordli Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/lierne, Tel. +47 74 34 34 66 Verdal Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/verdal, Tel. +47 74 07 75 00 www.norgesnasjonalparker.no